JP4779451B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a recording apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink droplets toward the recording medium while moving an ink jet head mounted on a carriage at a predetermined interval along the recording medium Is known.

  In such an ink jet recording apparatus, a drive circuit to which a drive data signal (print data signal), a drive waveform signal, and various control signals are input from a main body main circuit is provided on the carriage side. Ink jet heads (hereinafter referred to as recording heads) having ink jet nozzles are driven.

  That is, it is configured as shown in FIG. Serially transmitted drive data signals DATA C_0 to C_2, M_0 to M_2, Y_0 to Y_2, Bk_0 to Bk_2 (corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow and black, respectively) and drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, FIRE, and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 are transmitted to the drive circuits 100C, 100M, 100Y, and 100Bk, respectively. Then, the drive data signals DATA C_0 to C_2, M_0 to M_2, Y_0 to Y_2, and Bk_0 to Bk_2 are converted into parallel data corresponding to each nozzle by a shift register 101C, 101M, 101Y, 101Bk (serial-parallel converter). . The parallel data is latched by the D flip-flops 102C, 102M, 102Y, and 102Bk. Then, one drive waveform signal corresponding to each drive data is converted into a plurality of types of drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 by multiplexers 103C, 103M, 103Y, and 103Bk. Select from. Finally, the drive buffers 105C, 105M, 105Y, and 105Bk supply the drive waveform signals output from the multiplexers 103C, 103M, 103Y, and 103Bk to the actuators corresponding to the nozzle rows as drive signals of a predetermined voltage. Has been.

  By the way, in the recording apparatus as described above, for each recording material (ink color), a plurality of drive waveforms for ejecting a plurality of types of ink droplets for gradation recording are prepared, and a drive waveform is provided in the drive circuit. There were many signal lines for inputting signals.

  Thus, when the number of signal lines increases, it is disadvantageous in terms of cost and maintenance. In particular, when a flexible flat cable is used to transmit signals from the main circuit on the main unit side to the drive circuit on the carriage side, the width of the flexible flat cable is widened and the winding is complicated. The load increases.

Therefore, various attempts have been made to reduce the number of signal lines for transmitting drive waveform signals from the main circuit to the drive circuit. For example, data necessary for generating a drive waveform such as a pulse width is previously stored in the recording head. It has been proposed to serially transmit to a mounted waveform generation circuit, and to output a drive waveform from the waveform generation circuit at the start of recording based on the data (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-158643 (paragraphs 0053 to 0056 and FIG. 4)

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, although the number of signal lines for inputting drive waveforms from the apparatus main body side to the drive circuit is reduced, an additional waveform generation circuit is required, and each type of drive waveform is required. A waveform generation circuit must be provided, and the weight of the recording head also increases.

  Also, since cyan, yellow, and magenta other than black can be mixed to produce a color close to black, all recording is performed with cyan, yellow, and magenta except black, so that the signal for black as a recording material is recorded. It is conceivable to reduce the lines, but in monochrome recording, recording by mixing recording materials is inferior in sharpness compared to recording with black only, disadvantageous in terms of cost, and clearly cheaper Contradicts the need to record. In addition, since there is a demand for recording using a drive waveform corresponding to the characteristics of each ink, it is not possible to reduce the number of signal lines by sharing the drive waveforms for each ink.

  Accordingly, the inventor records, for example, a first recording mode in which recording is performed using a specific recording material (for example, black) among a plurality of recording materials, and recording using other recording materials excluding the specific recording material. In the case of a recording apparatus having the second recording mode, in the first recording mode, a drive waveform signal for recording with another recording material other than a specific recording material is transmitted in the second recording mode. Since the signal line to be used is idle (that is, not used for transmission of the drive waveform signal), if the signal line is used for transmission of the drive waveform signal even in the first recording mode, a specific recording material It is not necessary to provide a dedicated signal line for transmitting a drive waveform signal, and the present invention has been made based on the idea that the number of signal lines can be reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is a recording that can reduce the number of signal lines used to transmit a drive waveform signal from a main circuit (on the apparatus main body side) to a drive circuit (on the carriage side). Providing the device.

The invention according to claim 1 is a recording head having a plurality of actuators that perform dot recording using a plurality of recording materials, a plurality of drive circuits that output drive pulses to the plurality of actuators of the recording head, and the plurality of these against the driving circuit, the recording apparatus comprising: a body main circuit for outputting a plurality of types of drive waveform signals before and SL driving signal for each actuator,
The main body main circuit includes a plurality of signal generation units that output the plurality of types of driving waveform signals, and a first recording mode for recording using a specific recording material among the plurality of recording materials; Mode switching means for selecting in which mode the second recording mode is recorded using a recording material other than a specific recording material, and one signal generation of the plurality of signal generating units has one end that connects to the part, and common signal line for transmitting a driving waveform signal for said particular recording medium in the first recording mode, and the other end of said common signal lines, the plurality of drive circuits And a signal line for transmitting a drive waveform signal for the specific recording material to the first drive circuit in the first recording mode, and a common signal line The other end and the plurality of drive circuits. Second connecting the drive circuit, wherein the signal line for transmitting the driving waveform signal for a particular recording material is of a different drive waveform for said other recording medium in said second recording mode And a signal line for transmitting a signal to the second driver circuit . Here, the “mode switching means” is a switch provided on the apparatus main body (for example, an operation panel) for mechanically or electrically switching, or the control means determines whether the first recording mode is based on the drive data. including the case of switching to determine whether the recording mode. Also, the term "the signal line for transmitting the driving waveform signal for other recording material", one of the drive waveform signal for the recording material of those signal lines is all the plurality of other recording medium Not only in the case of a signal line for transmitting a signal (see claim 2), but also in the case where the number of types of drive waveforms for different recording materials is smaller than the number of types of drive waveforms for a specific recording material. This includes a case where signal lines for transmitting drive waveform signals for materials are mixed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first recording mode in which recording is performed using a specific recording material among the plurality of recording materials, and the second recording mode in which recording is performed using another recording material excluding the specific recording material. In the second recording mode, the specific recording material is not used in the first recording mode, and the signal line for transmitting the driving waveform signal is not used in the first recording mode. The signal line is used as a signal line for transmitting one of the drive waveform signals for the other recording material.

That is, the specific recording material and the other recording material share a signal line for transmitting their drive waveform signals, and the common signal line to be shared is selectively used according to the recording mode. Therefore, the number of shared signal lines can be reduced in the shared portion, and the drive waveform signal can be transmitted from the main body main circuit to the drive circuit with a smaller number of signal lines than the number of types of drive waveforms. It becomes possible. For example, when multiple types of drive waveforms are prepared for gradation recording, or when it is necessary to change the drive waveforms depending on the ink characteristics in color printing, the number of drive waveforms increases. It is.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the first signal generating unit and the second number of the plurality of signal generating units, and the first driving circuit and the second number of the plurality of driving circuits. A third drive circuit different from the drive circuit is connected by one signal line, and the one signal line outputs a drive waveform signal for the other recording material in the second recording mode. The data is transmitted to the third drive circuit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the main body main circuit receives a signal from the mode switching means, and the second driving is performed in the first recording mode. While the output of the drive signal for the other recording material to the circuit is prohibited, the drive signal for the specific recording material to the first drive circuit during the second recording mode It has a signal control part which prohibits the output of this.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the signal control unit of the main body main circuit prohibits the output of the drive signal for the other recording material to the drive circuit in the first recording mode. In the second recording mode, since the output of the drive signal for the specific recording material to the drive circuit is prohibited, an error occurs due to signal processing in the main body main circuit (signal control unit). Recording with the recording material is surely avoided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the recording color of the specific recording material is black.

  According to the invention of claim 4, the present invention can be applied when the first recording mode is the monochrome mode and the second recording mode is the color mode.

  As described above, the present invention shares a signal line for transmitting a drive waveform signal for a specific recording material and a signal line for transmitting a drive waveform signal for other recording materials excluding the specific recording material, Alternatively, a signal line for transmitting a driving waveform signal to a driving circuit corresponding to a specific recording head and a signal line for transmitting a driving waveform signal to driving circuits corresponding to other recording heads other than the specific recording head are shared. As a result, the number of signal lines required to transmit the drive waveform signal to the drive circuit can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment has a well-known inkjet type in which a recording head is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates along a recording medium, and ink droplets are ejected from the recording head toward the recording medium. belongs to.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a control device that controls an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a control device (of an ink jet recording apparatus) includes a CPU 11 that performs processing of a drive data signal (print data signal) and controls operation of the recording apparatus, and a ROM 12 that stores a program executed by the CPU 11. A main body circuit including a RAM 13 for temporarily storing data when the CPU 11 processes data, a gate array 14 which is a gate circuit LSI, and the like is provided. The CPU 11 includes an operation panel 15 for a user (user) to instruct printing, a motor drive circuit 16 for driving a carriage motor M1 (a motor for reciprocating a carriage (not shown)), and a paper feed motor. A motor drive circuit 17 for driving M2 (a motor for feeding a recording sheet as a recording medium in a predetermined direction), a paper sensor 18 for detecting the leading edge of the recording sheet, and a carriage on which the recording head 1 is mounted (see FIG. An origin sensor 19 for detecting the origin position (not shown) is connected.

  The recording head 1 is driven by a head driver 21 (having driving circuits 21C, 21M, 21Y, and 21Bk corresponding to recording materials cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, see FIG. 2). The head driver 21 is mounted on the carriage together with the recording head 1. The head driver 21 and the gate array 14 are connected via a flexible flat cable 22 (harness cable), and the head driver 21 is controlled by the gate array 14.

  Although not specifically illustrated, the recording head 1 individually increases or decreases the volume of each ink chamber that accommodates a plurality of inks by driving an actuator including a piezoelectric element, an electrostrictive element, and the like. It is to be jetted. An electrode for driving the actuator is provided for each nozzle, and the electrode is connected to the head driver 21 (specifically, driver buffers 44C, 44M, 44Y, 44Bk shown in FIG. 2). The head driver 21 generates a driving pulse having a driving waveform suitable for the recording head 1 based on the control of the gate array 14 and applies it to each electrode. An encoder sensor 20 that detects the position of the carriage 2 is connected to the gate array 14.

  The CPU 11 is connected to the ROM 12, RAM 13, and gate array 14 via an address bus 23 and a data bus 24. The CPU 11 generates a print timing signal and a reset signal according to a program stored in advance in the ROM 12 and transmits each signal to the gate array 14. Drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6, which will be described later, are stored in the ROM 13 in advance, or transferred together with the drive data signal from the host computer 26 via the interface 27 and stored in the RAM 12. Alternatively, it is stored in the image memory 25 and is output to the gate array 14 during a recording operation. In the host computer 26, the first recording mode (monochrome mode) for recording using black (specific recording material) and the other recording materials (cyan, magenta, yellow) excluding black based on the drive data. It is determined in which mode the second recording mode (color mode) for recording is used (mode switching means), and the result is transmitted as a mode signal.

  The gate array 14 temporarily stores image data transmitted from the host computer 26 (personal computer), which is an external device, via the interface 27 in the image memory 25. Further, the gate array 14 generates a data reception interrupt signal based on the drive data signal transmitted from the host computer 26 via the interface 27 and transmits the signal to the CPU 11. The gate array 14 generates a clock signal CLK and a strobe control signal STB according to the print timing signal and the control signal from the encoder sensor 20, and is based on the image data temporarily stored in the image memory 25. The head driver 21 synchronizes the drive data signal DATA (DATA C0 to C2, DATA M0 to M2, DATA Y0 to Y2, DATA Bk0 to Bk2) for forming the image data on the recording paper in synchronization with the clock signal CLK. Transmit to. The gate array 14 synchronizes the drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 with the clock signal CLK according to the print timing signal and the control signal from the encoder sensor. To the head driver 21. Each signal is transmitted from the gate array 14 to the head driver 21 through a flexible flat cable 22 that connects the head driver 21 and the gate array 14.

  Further, the gate array 14 is based on the mode signal, and in the first recording mode, the driving data signal for the driving circuits 21C, 21M, 21Y corresponding to recording materials other than black (cyan, magenta, yellow). While the output of DATA C0 to C2, DATA M0 to M2, and DATA Y0 to Y2 is prohibited, the output of the drive data signals DATA Bk0 to Bk2 for the drive circuit 21Bk corresponding to black is output in the second recording mode. Prohibited (signal control unit).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the head driver 21 has four drive circuits 21C, 21M, 21Y, and 21Bk for each recording material (black, cyan, magenta, and yellow).

  Each drive circuit 21C, 21M, 21Y, 21Bk converts the drive data signal DATA (DATA C0 to C2, DATA M0 to M2, DATA Y0 to Y2, DATA Bk0 to Bk2) into a serial-parallel conversion into a drive signal corresponding to each actuator. Shift registers 41C, 41M, 42Y, 42Bk, D lip flops 42C, 42M, 42Y, 42Bk, multiplexers 43C, 43M, 43Y, 43Bk (selectors), driver buffers 44C, 44M, 44Y , 44Bk. Each of the multiplexers 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43Bk includes a plurality of types of driving waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 corresponding to the driving circuits 31 to 34, respectively. Input according to the recording mode.

  The signal lines to which the drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6 and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 are input to the multiplexers 43C and 43Bk are all the same in six, and the portion on the gate array 14 side is a common signal line. It extends to the gate array 14. In the drive circuit 21C, the signal line 45C / Bk from the gate array 14 branches into a signal line 45C that goes to the multiplexer 43C in the drive circuit 21C and a signal line 45Bk that goes to the multiplexer 43Bk in the drive circuit 34.

  The gate array 14 receives the signal from the mode switching means, and drives the drive circuits 21C and 21Bk through the common signal line 45C / Bk depending on whether the recording mode is the first recording mode or the second recording mode. A signal output unit for selecting a drive waveform signal to be output to That is, the signal line 45C / Bk is used as a signal line for transmitting the drive waveform signals FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 for the specific recording material Bk in the first recording mode, and the other recording in the second recording mode. It is used as a signal line for transmitting drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6 for cyan as a material.

  Therefore, in the first recording mode (monochrome mode), the drive waveform signals FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 are input to the multiplexer 43Bk, the drive waveform signal is selected by the multiplexer 43Bk, and monochrome printing is performed. The drive waveform signals FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 are also input to the multiplexer 43C, but no drive signal is input to the shift register 41C corresponding to the multiplexer 43C, so that the drive waveform is not selected by the multiplexer 43C. Further, the drive waveform signals FIRE M_1 to M_6 and FIRE Y_1 to 6 are not input to the multiplexers 43M and 43Y, and the drive waveform is not selected.

  On the other hand, in the second recording mode (color mode), the drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6 are input to the multiplexer 43C, and the drive waveform signal is selected by the multiplexer 43C. The drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6 are also input to the multiplexer 43Bk, but since no drive signal is input to the shift register 41Bk corresponding to the multiplexer 43Bk, the drive waveform is not selected by the multiplexer 43Bk. Further, the drive waveform signals FIRE M_1 to M_6 and FIRE Y_1 to 6 are input to the multiplexers 43M and 43Y, the drive waveforms are selected, and color printing is performed.

  For example, when the recording head 1 is a 94 channel multi-nozzle head in which 94 ink chambers are provided for each recording material, the shift registers 41C, 41M, 41Y, and 41Bk are each configured to be 94 bits long × 3. The Drive data signals DATA (DATA C0 to C2, DATA M0 to M2, DATA Y0 to Y2, DATA) serially transmitted from the gate array 14 in synchronization with the clock signal CLK are transferred to the shift registers 41C, 41M, 41Y, and 41Bk. Bk0 to Bk2) are input. The shift registers 41C, 41M, 41Y, and 41Bk perform serial-parallel conversion of the drive data signal by converting the drive data signal into a parallel signal in accordance with the rising edge of the clock pulse of the clock signal CLK. Set drive signals (including selection signals SEL0_0, SEL0_1, and SEL0_2) to. In this way, each drive signal is composed of this 3-bit selection signal, and a drive waveform signal including non-printing is selected by a combination of the bits.

  The D Philip flops 42C, 42M, 42Y, and 42Bk respectively latch the parallel signals in accordance with the rising edge (of the pulse) of the strobe control signal STB transmitted from the gate array 14.

  Multiplexers 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43Bk provided for each channel respectively have six types of drive waveform signals FIRE based on the contents of the 3-bit drive signals output from the D Philip flops 42C, 42M, 42Y, and 42Bk. One of C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to 6, FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 is selected and output to the driver buffers 44C, 44M, 44Y and 44Bk.

  For example, when six types of drive waveform signals having different numbers of pulses are prepared, these six types of drive waveform signals are always repeatedly output to the multiplexers 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43Bk at a constant cycle. The drive signal includes 3-bit selection signals SEL0_0, SEL0_1, and SEL0_2, and each of the multiplexers 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43Bk receives one of the drive waveform signals (including non-printing) in accordance with the selection signal input. Select. Specifically, the case where the recording material is cyan will be described. When the selection signals SEL0_0, SEL0_1, and SEL0_2 are 0, 0, 0, non-printing is performed, and when 0, 1, 0, the drive waveform signal FIRE C_01 is set to 0, Seven gradations including non-printing can be obtained in units of nozzles such that the driving waveform signal FIRE C — 02 is selected for 0, 1 and the driving waveform signal FIRE C — 03 is selected for 1, 0, 0.

  Each of the driver buffers 44C, 44M, 44Y, 44Bk is based on the drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 output from the multiplexers 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43Bk, respectively. Then, a driving pulse having a voltage suitable for the recording head 1 is generated, and the driving pulse having the selected driving waveform is output to the electrode of each ink chamber of the recording head 1.

  If the recording head 1 is not 94 channels, shift registers 41C, 41M, 41Y, 41Bk, D lip flops 42C, 42M, 42Y, 42Bk, multiplexers 43C, 43M, 43Y, 43Bk (selector) and driver buffers 44C, If the bit lengths of 44M, 44Y, and 44Bk are the same as the number of channels of the recording head 1, it can be similarly applied. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied when the number of types of drive waveform signals is not six.

  Next, the operation of the head driver 21 will be described.

  The drive data signal is read from the image memory 25 by the gate array 14 and serially transmitted to the head driver 21 (drive circuits 21C, 21M, 21Y, and 21Bk) via the flexible flat cable 22, and the shift registers 41C, 41M, and 41Y are transmitted. , 41Bk and developed in parallel and output as drive signals (3-bit selection signals) from the D Philip flops 42C, 42M, 42Y, 42Bk to the multiplexers 43C, 43M, 43Y, 43Bk. Each of the multiplexers 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43Bk, based on the respective drive signals, has a plurality of types of drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, which are input from the gate array 14 by parallel transmission. One of FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 is selected, and driver buffers 44C, 44M, 44Y, and 44Bk are used as predetermined drive waveform signals for ink ejection from a plurality of ejection nozzles (not shown) of the recording head 1. Output to. The drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 each include one or a plurality of drive pulses for recording.

  The same applies to any of the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black drive circuits 21C, 21M, 21Y, and 21Bk, and therefore the cyan drive circuit 21C will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, drive data signals DATA C_0, DATA C_1, and DATA C_2 that are serially transmitted in synchronization with the clock signal CLK from the gate array 14 are input to the shift register 41C. The shift register 41C has a bit length of the number of nozzles in each nozzle row (for example, 94) × the number of bits of drive data. The shift register 41C serial-parallel converts the drive data signals DATA C_0, DATA C_1, and DATA C_2 based on the rising edge of the clock signal CLK, and generates parallel drive signals S * _0, S * _1, 94 for each of 94 nozzles. S * _2 ("*" represents any number from 0 to 93, and so on) is output.

  The D flip-flop 42C selects each of the recording signals S * _0, S * _1, S * _2 based on the rise of the strobe control signal STB transmitted from the gate array 14 (main body main circuit) as the selection signal SEL * _0, SEL * _1 and SEL * _2 are output to the multiplexers 43C, 43M, 43Y and 43Bk. The D flip-flop 42C has the same bit length as the shift register 41C.

  Drive waveform signals FIRE C_1, FIRE C_2, FIRE C_3, FIRE C_4, FIRE C_5, FIRE C_6 output from a waveform signal generation unit (not shown) of the gate array 14 (main circuit main circuit) to the multiplexer 43C of the drive circuit 21C. Is entered.

  The multiplexer 43C has six types of drive waveform signals FIRE C_1, FIRE C_2, FIRE C_3, FIRE C_4, FIRE based on the selection signals SEL * _0, SEL * _1, and SEL * _2 from the D flip-flop 42C for each nozzle unit. One of C_5 and FIRE C_6 is selected and output as a drive waveform signal C_00.

  The drive buffer 44C supplies the signal output from the multiplexer 43C as a predetermined drive waveform signal OUT C_00 to each actuator corresponding to the nozzle row, drives the actuator, and injection is performed. Thus, ink droplets corresponding to the number of drive pulses or the pulse width included in the drive waveform signal are ejected from each nozzle based on the drive signals (selection signals SEL0_0, SEL0_1, SEL0_2), and gradation recording is performed.

  As long as the recording conditions do not change, the drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 are repeatedly read out by the gate array 14 at a constant period, and are driven from the gate array 14 Signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 are repeatedly output to the head driver 21.

  In the above embodiment, the drive waveform signals FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, and FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 are driven as recording periods. The period of the strobe control signal STB input to the D Philip flops 42C, 42M, 42Y, and 42Bk may be any that matches the recording period.

  The recording apparatus according to the embodiment performs color recording, and drive waveform signals for each ink color are set according to the characteristics of the ink (recording material), and all the drive waveform signals are transmitted.

  In addition, the drive signals DATA (DATA C0 to C2, DATA M0 to M2, DATA, and FIRE C_1 to C_6, FIRE M_1 to M_6, FIRE Y_1 to Y_6, FIRE Bk_1 to Bk_6 are changed according to the recording conditions. Y0 to Y2, DATA Bk0 to Bk2) may be appropriately rewritten and transferred from the host computer 26 and stored in the RAM 12 or the image memory 25. For example, when transferring a large number of image data to be ejected almost simultaneously from the host computer 26, in order to avoid power peaks or to avoid crosstalk, a large number of drive pulses are set not to overlap with the image data. The drive signal DATA can be transferred.

  Further, the drive data signal DATA (DATA C0 to C2, DATA M0 to M2, DATA Y0 to Y2, DATA Bk0 to Bk2) output from the gate array 14 may be corrected in accordance with environmental conditions such as temperature. it can.

  In the host computer 26, the mode switching means is configured to determine whether the recording mode is the first recording mode or the second recording mode. The mode switching means is in the first recording mode. It is also possible to configure as an external switch that mechanically or electrically selects whether the recording mode is the second recording mode. In that case, the external switch can be provided, for example, on the operation panel of the apparatus main body.

  Needless to say, magenta or yellow as well as cyan can be used as the recording material other than the specific recording material. At that time, different drive waveform signals may be transmitted in each recording mode to two recording materials sharing the signal line. However, if the ink characteristics are similar, the drive waveform signal should be shared. You can also.

  In the embodiment, the number of signal lines for transmitting the drive waveform signal for the specific recording material (black) is the number of signal lines for transmitting the drive waveform signals for the other recording materials (cyan, magenta, yellow). The present invention can be applied to the case where the number is the same, but less than that. In this case, it is necessary to mix and use signal lines for transmitting drive waveform signals for two or three types of recording materials as signal lines for transmitting drive waveform signals for a specific recording material. For example, all or one of signal lines for transmitting signal lines for transmitting drive waveform signals for cyan and magenta, which are other recording materials, as signal lines for transmitting drive waveform signals for black, which is a specific recording material, are used. Applicable when sharing parts.

  In addition, this print head is provided with a single print head in which a row of nozzles for ejecting black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks is arranged, or a print head for ejecting each of these inks. The invention can be applied.

  In any mode of a first recording mode for recording using a specific recording material among the plurality of recording materials and a second recording mode for recording using a recording material other than the specific recording material In addition to the case of having mode switching means for selecting whether to record, a first recording mode for recording using a specific recording head among a plurality of recording heads, and other recording heads excluding the specific recording head Similarly, the present invention can be applied to a case where there is a mode switching means for selecting which of the second recording modes to be used and recording is performed. In this case, a signal line for transmitting a drive waveform signal from the main body circuit to the drive circuit corresponding to the other recording head in the second recording mode is connected to the specific recording in the first recording mode. It is used to transmit a drive waveform signal from the main body main circuit to the drive circuit corresponding to the head.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink jet recording apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to a recording apparatus using an impact recording head, a thermal recording head, or the like.

  In addition to gradation control of recording density (printing density), history control, that is, in an impact type recording head, a driving waveform is selected depending on the presence or absence of driving data before and after considering vibration remaining in the impact element, or thermal type The recording head can also be applied to select a driving waveform in accordance with the presence or absence of previous and subsequent driving data in consideration of heat remaining in the heating element.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a control device that controls an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a head driver. It is a block diagram which expands and shows the drive circuit about cyan among head drivers. It is a block diagram of a conventional head driver.

1 Recording head 11 CPU
14 Gate array 21 Head driver 21C, 21M, 21Y, 21Bk Drive circuit 22 Flexible flat cable 33 Multiplexer 45C / Bk, 45C, 45B, 45Y, 45Bk Signal line

Claims (4)

A recording head having a plurality of actuators that perform dot recording using a plurality of recording materials, a plurality of driving circuits that output driving pulses to the plurality of actuators of the recording head, and a plurality of driving circuits, in the recording apparatus comprising: a body main circuit for outputting a plurality of types of drive waveform signals before and SL driving signal for each actuator,
The main body main circuit has a plurality of signal generators that output the plurality of types of drive waveform signals,
In any mode of a first recording mode for recording using a specific recording material among the plurality of recording materials and a second recording mode for recording using a recording material other than the specific recording material Mode switching means for selecting whether to record,
A common signal line having one end connected to one of the plurality of signal generators, and transmitting a drive waveform signal for the specific recording material in the first recording mode;
The other end of the common signal line is connected to a first drive circuit of the plurality of drive circuits, and a drive waveform signal for the specific recording material in the first recording mode is transmitted to the first drive circuit . A signal line for transmission to the drive circuit ;
The other end of the common signal line is connected to a second drive circuit of the plurality of drive circuits, and is separate from a signal line that transmits a drive waveform signal for the specific recording material. And a signal line for transmitting a drive waveform signal for the other recording material to the second drive circuit in the second recording mode. The other signal generation unit of the plurality of signal generation units and the third drive circuit different from the first drive circuit and the second drive circuit among the plurality of drive circuits are one signal. Connected by wire,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one signal line transmits a drive waveform signal for the other recording material to the third drive circuit in the second recording mode . The main body main circuit receives a signal from the mode switching means and inhibits the output of the drive signal for the other recording material to the second drive circuit in the first recording mode. On the other hand, in the second recording mode, a signal control unit for prohibiting the output of the drive signal for the specific recording material to the first drive circuit is provided. 2. The recording apparatus according to 2.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific recording material has a black recording color.